Week 1 - Update

Tomorrow marks one week since we arrived in Cyprus. It has gone so fast. Adjusting to driving on the other side of the road, the slow pace of Cypriot living, the sunny days interrupted by stormy rain, and of course, the medical appointments.

Liam was supposed to get a catheter placed on Tuesday, so we drove an hour to a hospital in the capital. But it turned out the placement would be in the groin area, not the leg as discussed with his doctor at the center. Liam already had that done once in Germany, and it went terribly. Apparently his anatomy is "not in the medical books," and placement in that area is very painful for him. So we decided to postpone and try to get his treatment done through the veins in his arms instead, as is done for most adults, and see how it goes. If it doesn't work, we will need to go back to the capital to place a catheter in the jugular area, this time under partial anesthesia.

Well, let me tell you: Liam really, really wants the vein treatment to work. Unfortunately, his veins are "a bit thin," which isn't ideal. That was the reason for the catheter idea. But "it may be able to work," the nurse said.

So came Wednesday. Treatment day. Three and a half hours hooked up to a machine that filters the blood. Inflammation, microplastics, viruses, bacteria. He is going to do this about twelve times.

The universe has a way of showing up in such magical ways. About a month ago, Liam had a blood test, but his blood wasn't flowing into the vials. A first for him. So I told Liam to relax his body and let everything flow. And all the vials filled in less than a minute. This actually happens to me all the time. I have to consciously let the blood flow or it just won't come. It doesn't make much sense physically, but so it is.

I explained that to Liam. That we can "control" even the uncontrollable. And on Wednesday, that's what Liam did. He concentrated on letting the blood flow for three and a half hours. And it worked.

It gave Liam confidence. The treatment was possible through the veins in his arms.

But. There is always a "but." When we came to pick up Liam in the afternoon, the nurse greeted us and said they filtered out "a lot" of inflammation. Not usual for a first treatment. She said they could tell from this result that Liam is a complicated case. Great! Well, we kind of knew that already. But still.

All I know is, I'm glad we are here, and that the center will continue the necessary treatments to get Liam back to health.

To tell you the truth, I don't even know how Liam isn't worse than he is on a daily basis. I guess all the supplements he takes, the slow pace I set for him, the cuddles, the calm house, it's enabling him to be somewhat okay.

But in the background, all those bacteria are still running his body.

And then there is you. All of you who prayed for Liam. All of you who don't pray but sent positive waves. You who don't usually pray but prayed for him anyway. You who did remote Reiki for him. Thank you for that.

I am very hopeful for Liam. He is in good hands.

Next week Liam has two more treatments, a meeting with the doctor, and a vitamin infusion. But today is rest day. It's Orthodox Easter here, and everything is closed until Monday. So today we are going to a monastery in the mountains, taking a short walk, and having dinner in front of a fun movie.